Global survey: Most back asylum right but distrust motives

Two-thirds of people worldwide support the right of those fleeing war or persecution to seek refuge in another country. However, a significant majority also harbors distrust, suspecting many asylum seekers are motivated by economic prospects rather than genuine need.

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Two out of three people support the right of those fleeing wars or persecution to seek refuge in another country, but a majority also suspects that many asylum seekers are actually seeking better economic opportunities.

These findings emerge from a global survey conducted by Ipsos for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The poll, which surveyed over 21,500 individuals across 29 nations, highlights a complex public sentiment. While 66% of respondents affirmed the right to seek refuge, a figure only slightly down from previous years, a concurrent 61% believe that many seeking international protection are doing so for economic reasons or to access social benefits.

This public ambivalence exists even as many countries, including some seen as benchmarks like the United States and several European nations, have adopted tougher stances on migration. Similar trends are also appearing in the Global South, with countries like South Africa and Pakistan implementing mass deportations. The survey indicates that nearly half of respondents (49%) think borders should be closed to refugees, and only 44% believe refugees will successfully integrate into host societies.

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The survey reflects the contradictions in public opinion on refugee protection, with responses coexisting solidarity towards them and doubts about the validity of some of the stories they tell.

Trinh Tu, managing director of Ipsos, noted that these seemingly contradictory positions often coexist within the same individual. The public debate, she suggested, has shifted from whether refugees should be protected to how asylum processes can be managed fairly. The survey also underscores a desire for shared responsibility among states, with a growing sentiment that the burden should not fall solely on wealthier nations. There is also an expectation for greater involvement from international organizations and NGOs, despite recent funding cuts impacting these bodies.

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These positions are not incompatible. They often coexist in the same person, and the debate is no longer so much about whether refugees should be protected, but about how to manage asylum and ensure that procedures are fair.